On Sunday, August 31, 2025, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, the Tri-Cities Community Action Team (TC CAT) will host the 5th Annual International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) at Town Centre Park Community Centre, 1207 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam.
This global day of remembrance, learning, and action is more important than ever as our community continues to feel the devastating impact of the toxic drug crisis.
Why International Overdose Awareness Day Matters
International Overdose Awareness Day, first held in Melbourne, Australia in 2001, is now recognized in communities around the world. It is a day to:
- Raise awareness about overdose and the drug poisoning crisis.
- Reduce stigma surrounding substance use and drug-related deaths.
- Acknowledge the grief of families, friends, and communities left behind.
In British Columbia, the crisis continues to claim the lives of far too many people. Most deaths occur in the privacy of people’s homes, often when individuals are alone, and men remain disproportionately affected. But this crisis does not discriminate. It leaves behind ripples of grief and loss — mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts, uncles, daughters, sons, friends, co-workers, and neighbours — every life is connected, and every life matters.
Substance use is still highly stigmatized, and that stigma often prevents people from reaching out for help. This is why days like IOAD are so crucial: they open up conversations, break down barriers, and remind us that compassion and action go hand in hand.
What to Expect at IOAD 2025 – Tri-Cities
This year’s event will bring together community, service providers, and artists to create a space of remembrance, education, and healing.
Highlights include:
- Mental Health & Substance Use Resources
- Naloxone Training and Harm Reduction Supplies
- Story Sharing and Memorial Tree
- Interactive Community Art & Local Artist Showcase
- Guided Tree Walk and Meditation
Community art and expression will be central, with projects such as the Moms Stop the Harm Purple Chair, TC CAT Banner Mural, Purple Flags in Memorial, youth art journaling, and cultural performance. Art allows us to process grief, challenge stigma, and imagine a more compassionate future together.
We are grateful for the support of many local service providers, including Fraser Health Overdose Outreach Team, Curtis’ Dream Car, Naloxhome, HIM (Health Initiative for Men), Moving Forward, Pacifica Treatment Centre, Talitha Koum Society, Tri-Cities iHART Team, and Wondrous Tree Fellowship, among others. It truly takes a community to make change possible.
What the Community Can Do to Help
Every person in the community has a role to play in reducing stigma and saving lives. You can:
- Learn about harm reduction and keep naloxone on hand.
- Start compassionate conversations about substance use with friends, family, and colleagues.
- Support local organizations who work directly with people impacted.
- Attend community events like IOAD to show your support and learn more.
When we act with empathy, we create a community where people feel safe to seek help, and where fewer lives are lost in silence.
What the Province Can Do to Help
While communities are working tirelessly, broader systemic change is needed. The province can help by:
- Expanding access to a regulated safe supply of substances.
- Increasing treatment options and making them affordable, timely, and accessible.
- Investing in mental health supports across all ages.
- Addressing housing and poverty, which are deeply linked to substance use harms.
- Continuing to fund and expand harm reduction services and outreach.
Policy change, paired with community action, is how we shift the trajectory of this crisis.
How to Stay Safe and How to Respond
Overdose deaths are preventable. Here’s how you can help keep yourself and others safe:
Stay Safe:
- Never use alone. If you must, use an app like the Lifeguard App or connect with a friend by phone.
- Carry naloxone — it’s free at many pharmacies and community organizations.
- Test substances when possible with drug-checking services.
- Start with a small amount and go slow.
How to Respond to an Overdose:
- Call 911 immediately.
- Administer naloxone if opioids are suspected.
- Provide rescue breathing if needed.
- Stay with the person until help arrives.
Training will be available at IOAD to give community members the confidence to respond in an emergency.
Closing
The overdose crisis has left no family or community untouched. As we gather for the 5th Annual International Overdose Awareness Day in the Tri-Cities, we come together not only to mourn and remember, but also to take action. By working as a community and pushing for systemic change, we can save lives, reduce stigma, and build a future rooted in compassion and hope.
We hope you will join us on August 31st.
💜 With respect and solidarity,
Tri-Cities Community Action Team (TC CAT)